The brain is a wonderfully powerful machine and should be taken care of to maintain proper function. Today we celebrate the brain to remind ourselves that we have the ability to train our brain, through stimulus-response, to stay mentally alert and make the best choices!
Mental Alertness
Whether you’re studying for an exam, working long hours, or coordinating your children’s virtual classes, being mentally alert should be a top priority.
Remaining mentally focused is incredibly important for every individual. Being mentally alert is crucial for almost every aspect of your life and can even affect your mood and overall health.
Many people experience mental fatigue from physical and mental activity yet have no idea how to overcome it. This can make even the easiest task seem overwhelmingly difficult and cause a lack of motivation. There are a number of natural ways to assist in cognitive function such as adjusting eating habits, exercising more frequently, and monitoring daily routines.
Understanding the causes and consequences of mental fatigue can give individuals the ability to surmount these difficulties and go on to a healthier and more robust life.
Causes of Mental Fatigue
Kristi Martin, former senior advisor in the Office of Health Reform at the Department of Health and Human Services, describes mental fatigue as “a change in psychobiological state, caused by prolonged periods of demanding cognitive activity.” There are a number of reasons why someone would be subjected to mental fatigue, however the root is not always easy to pinpoint.
Some common causes of mental fatigue include:
- Stressful occupations
- School/Studying
- Financial stress
- Family Life
- Lack of sleep
- Not drinking enough water
- Poor eating habits
Finding the source of your mental fatigue could bring you one step closer to eliminating the cause which leads to a more productive and energetic life.
How to Deal with Mental Fatigue
The issue causing the mind to work less efficiently is often difficult to identify. Although you may not be able to directly say “This is the cause,” there are methods to try and lessen the effects you are experiencing.
Ways that have been found as useful are:
- Take a break from your daily routine
- Organize your schedule
- Change your eating habits
- Stay hydrated
- Get plenty of sleep
- Exercise
- Be creative
- Learn a new skill/hobby
- Engage in mentally stimulating activities
-
Yoga/Relaxation techniques
- Breathing exercises/meditation
- Massage Therapy
- Aromatherapy
There are different ways for everyone to relieve themselves of mental fatigue. Realizing what aspects of your life are responsible for your stress is essential to find out what methods can be used to bring back your mental alertness.
Supplements
MRM’s Brain ACTIVE™ is formulated to support focus and mental alertness during the days you feel “off.” This product has the necessary natural ingredients to support cognitive function throughout your most mentally exhausting days.*
Clinical trials have shown that Brain ACTIVE™ not only helps sustain alertness but also increases one’s reaction time. A study conducted in 2018 shows a correlation between mental focus and performance in sport-related activity. A lack of focus has been tied to a decrease in an athlete’s ability to perform at an optimal level. For this reason, Brain ACTIVE™ has been seen to give athletes an increase of mental alertness thus supplying the necessary cognitive ability to make quick decisions.*
A decrease in concentration causes obligations to seem more difficult than they really are which can lead to elevated stress levels. Brain ACTIVE™ is designed to counteract this feeling by supplying the focus and stamina needed to complete your most daunting of tasks.*
* These statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
References
Gerber, Markus; Michael Kellmann, Tim Hartmann, Uwe Pühse. “Do exercise and fitness buffer
against stress among Swiss police and emergency response service officers?” Psychology of Sport and Exercise Vol. 11, Issue 4. July 2010,
Guo, Zizheng. “The impairing effects of mental fatigue on response inhibition: An ERP
study.” PloS one vol. 13. June 2018.
Pageaux, Benjamin, and Romuald Lepers. “The effects of mental fatigue on sport-related
performance.” Progress in brain research vol. 240. 2018.
Martin, Kristy. “Mental Fatigue Impairs Endurance Performance: A Physiological Explanation.”
Sports medicine vol. 48,9. Auckland, N.Z. 2018.